The holidays are a time of giving and friendship. But nothing can put a damper on the good time like a burglary occurring on your property while you’re away. Although most burglaries happen over the summer months, it is still very important to protect your home and your family over the holiday season – especially if you plan to be away. Follow these three steps to keep your home safe while you’re away this holiday season.
Complete a structural check
One of the most basic ways to keep your home safe during the holidays while you are away is to make sure that your home is structurally capable of keeping intruders out. Doors and windows are the easiest ways for burglars to get into your home. Having proper locks on these parts of your house can be your first line of defense to keep your home safe.
Before you leave for vacation this holiday season, conduct a check on all of the locks on your doors and windows. If any door or window is able to be open while the lock is engaged or the lock is not in working order, then consider putting this first on your to-do list before you leave this holiday season.
Use You Circle of Support
Many neighborhoods implement a neighborhood watch system. A neighborhood watch is an organized group of civilians who are devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood. One of the cheapest ways to keep your home safe while you’re away during the holiday is to implement a neighborhood watch program with your neighbors. Neighborhood Watch signs can be purchased online.
Just the sight of these signs in a neighborhood may discourage crime in the area. If your neighbors are unwilling to participate or you would just like to handle your home safety with trusted friends, then consider asking a friend to check on your house occasionally while you are gone.
Make the Home Appear is if it is Currently Occupied
Burglary is often a crime of opportunity. Small changes can often discourage a criminal from using your house as their opportunity. The sight of an occupied home can be one factor in dissuading a burglar from targeting your home. If you live in a house that has multiple vehicles, then you are at an advantage.
A car in the driveway can make your house appear as though the occupants are not out of town. Also, even though most burglaries occur between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., leaving some lights on the inside of the house that is visible from the exterior can make it appear as though the occupants are home.
Invest in a Home Monitoring System
Home monitoring systems are generally affordable these days. There are many variations on the type of monitoring available to suit your budget needs. Whether you want full-service monitoring with a company overseeing your security system or want a do-it-yourself system including features such as a doorbell camera, you can improve the security of your home and maybe even receive a homeowner’s insurance discount by doing so.
Protect Your Home Now
While you can take the steps above to protect your house, unfortunately, this will not work 100% of the time. If your house is burglarized, then you need to be sure that you have insurance coverage to protect your assets. A home is often the largest purchase that we make and protecting it and what is inside is crucial. If you are looking for homeowner’s insurance in Louisiana that you can trust, then Thompson, Smith & Leach Insurance Group is your go-to. With three convenient locations in Lafayette, Abbeville, and Franklin accessing homeowner’s insurance from a family-owned business that has been in operation for over fifty years, you will feel right at home with our insurance coverage policy options.
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